Does this mean that the controversial B1A4 fanmeeting in Kuala Lumpur case is officially closed and K-Pop is safe again?
On 11th January, it was wildly (and perhaps wrongly) reported that K-Pop idol boy group B1A4 were seen hugging tudung-clad fangirls in a heavily circulated viral video. Uploaded by media outlet Sukan Star TV on their Facebook page, the 3 minute odd video titled, “Perempuan melayu dicabul atas pentas oleh mat kpop semalam”, suggested that Malay girls were “molested” on stage by the idols.
Needless to say, with a title like that, it quickly gained traction as well as a lot of attention. It sparked heavy debates amongst K-Pop fans in Malaysia as well as internationally, and even prompted certain parties/authorities e.g. PAS, JAKIM, JAWI to react, calling for the girls involved to turn themselves in to assist investigations.
JAKIM (Malaysian Islamic Development Department) had directed JAWI to take action against those involved. After which, JAWI (The Federal Territories Islamic Department) said that it would investigate the 3 Malay girls for public indecency and outraging Muslims, under Section 29 of Shariah Criminal Offences (Federal Territories) Act 1997. Section 29 of the Act allows for a fine of up to RM1,000 and imprisonment of no more than 6 months upon conviction.
As a matter of fact, last week, Utusan Malaysia had quoted Paimuzi as saying that the religious body will apply for an arrest warrant if the Malay girls allegedly “molested” by the band members refuse to cooperate with its investigation and do not turn themselves in.
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However, just today, MMO is reporting that JAWI has admitted it cannot pursue the 3 Malay girls despite previously saying it would seek their arrests for public indecency. JAWI director Paimuzi Yahya confirmed that the girls have not turned themselves in as directed and that the religious authority’s one-week deadline for them to do so has since lapsed.
“There is nothing we (JAWI) can do. Nothing. If they turn up, we can give them advice. But if they don’t, and for now, they have not turned up, we cannot do anything,” he told Malay Mail Online when contacted here.
Paimuzi also conceded that JAWI has no legal authority to compel the girls, who remain unidentified, to come forward to aid in the department’s investigation.
“They have not come here, so we feel that perhaps they (the girls) have been advised by other people,” the JAWI official added.
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